Unit ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND BIOENERGY
- Course
- Molecular and industrial biotechnology
- Study-unit Code
- A005482
- Curriculum
- In all curricula
- Teacher
- Elisa Moretti
- Teachers
-
- Elisa Moretti
- Valentina Coccia (Codocenza)
- Hours
- 26 ore - Elisa Moretti
- 26 ore (Codocenza) - Valentina Coccia
- CFU
- 6
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2026
- Offered
- 2026/27
- Learning activities
- Affine/integrativa
- Area
- Attività formative affini o integrative
- Sector
- IIND-07/B
- Type of study-unit
- Opzionale (Optional)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa monodisciplinare
- Language of instruction
- Italian
- Contents
- "The course provides a theoretical and applied overview of energy technologies and systems for biotechnological applications, with a focus on the energy transition, process sustainability, and the integration of renewable energy sources with biotechnological systems.
The teaching approach combines theoretical lectures with case-study analysis, best practices, and laboratory activities.
Key topics include:
the national and international energy scenario and the role of renewable energy sources;
the use of solar energy in biotechnology laboratories, processes, and facilities;
solar thermal and photovoltaic systems, including selection criteria, components, storage systems, and preliminary sizing tools;
other renewable energy technologies of practical interest, including geothermal energy, heat pumps, and hybrid systems;
bioenergy and biotechnological processes for the production of bioethanol, biodiesel, biogas, biomethane, biohydrogen, and advanced biofuels;
characterization, pretreatment, and valorization of local residual biomass;
analysis and mitigation of the environmental impacts of biotechnological facilities, with particular attention to odour emissions.
Laboratory activities support applied learning through experimental tests on biomass and conversion processes, the use of characterization instruments, design activities on solar systems for biotechnological applications, and the analysis of real case studies." - Reference texts
- Teacher's lecture notes and electronic teaching materials (pdf).
Supporting materials for the use of tools for solar plant assessment and design, including databases and applications for estimating photovoltaic energy production. - Educational objectives
- The course aims to provide students with theoretical and applied knowledge needed to understand, analyze, and manage energy and biotechnological plants, with special attention to the integration of renewable energy sources into laboratory, research, and industrial production processes.
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
analyze the role of renewable energy sources in the energy transition and in biotechnological processes;
understand the operating principles, components, and configurations of solar thermal and photovoltaic systems, including storage systems;
perform preliminary assessments of photovoltaic energy production and sizing using support tools;
recognize the potential and limitations of systems in relation to the energy needs of biotechnology laboratories and plants;
understand biotechnological processes for the production of biofuels, biomethane, biohydrogen, and biomaterials;
interpret the main biomass characterization parameters and assess their energy potential;
understand the operation of laboratory equipment and experimental procedures for biomass pretreatment, biomethane production, biohydrogen production, and environmental characterization;
assess technical, economic, and environmental sustainability, including odour emissions;
apply best practices through case studies, design activities, and technical visits.
The course combines theoretical lectures, exercises, design activities, and laboratory work to develop operational skills useful for professional practice and research. - Prerequisites
- In order to understand and apply most of the course topics, students should have basic knowledge of physics, chemistry, mass and energy balances, and the main laboratory techniques.
- Teaching methods
- The course is organized as follows:
1. classroom lectures on the course topics, supported by computer presentations, technical data, and applied case studies;
2. exercises and design activities, with particular reference to preliminary sizing and energy production estimates for solar systems serving biotechnology;
3. laboratory activities in the CIRIAF/CRB laboratories at the Engineering Campus, focused on biomass characterization, pretreatments, conversion processes, and environmental impact measurement;
4. specialist seminars and case study analysis on renewable energy plants, bioenergy, and biotechnological plants;
5. field visits, when possible, to biotechnological plants and renewable energy production facilities. - Other information
- Attendance is optional but highly recommended, especially for laboratory activities, design exercises, and possible technical visits.
- Learning verification modality
- The exam consists of an oral test lasting approximately 30 minutes.
The test aims to assess the student's knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and methodological contents of the course, the ability to apply acquired skills to the analysis of energy and biotechnological plants, independent judgment in selecting technical solutions, and the ability to connect renewable energy technologies, biotechnological processes, and environmental sustainability.
Case studies, laboratory activities, design exercises on solar systems, and technical solutions for environmental impact mitigation may also be discussed. The exam also assesses technical language, organization of the presentation, and the ability to sustain a critical discussion on the topics proposed by the examination board. - Extended program
- The course program is organized into Teaching Units (T.U.) (both theoretical and practical/laboratory) as described below.
T.U.1 - Energy, biotechnology, and sustainable development: national and international energy scenario; energy transition; renewable energy sources; role of bioenergy and renewable energy technologies in biotechnological processes.
T.U.2 - Solar energy serving biotechnology: solar radiation; solar thermal and photovoltaic systems; main components; modules, inverters, storage systems, and plant configurations; integration criteria for laboratories, fermenters, and thermal/electrical users in biotechnological plants; energy production assessment tools and preliminary sizing case studies.
Solar Power Plant Laboratory for Biotechnology
T.U.3 - Other renewable energy sources and integrated systems: overview of wind energy, geothermal energy, heat pumps, and hybrid systems; selection criteria based on thermal and electrical demand profiles; integration with storage systems and local networks.
T.U.4 - Raw materials for biotechnological plants: residual biomass and by-products; types, classification, chemical-physical properties, moisture, ash, volatile solids, lower heating value, and lignocellulosic fractions.
Overview of the main laboratory methods and techniques for characterization at the CIRIAF-CRB Laboratory, Engineering Campus.
T.U.5 - Processes and technologies for bioethanol production: hydrolysis, fermentation, and distillation; second-generation bioethanol; physical, chemical, and low-impact pretreatments, including organosolv processes and green chemistry approaches.
Lboratory pretreatment of biomass with organic solvents at the CIRIAF laboratories.
T.U.6 - Processes and technologies for biodiesel and advanced biofuel production: transesterification, use of glycerine, second- and third-generation biodiesel, Fischer-Tropsch processes, and integrated supply chains.
T.U.7 - Biogas, biomethane, and biohydrogen: anaerobic digestion; plant configurations; upgrading of biogas to biomethane using membrane, osmotic, and cryogenic systems; biomethane uses; hydrogen as an energy carrier and biological processes for biohydrogen production.
Processes and technologies for the production of biohydrogen and laboratory tests for the hydrogenation potential of biomass.
T.U.8 - Environmental impacts and plant sustainability: odour emissions, measurement techniques, dynamic olfactometry, technical standards, sampling, mitigation strategies, and case studies.
Measurement of odor impact through dynamic olfactometry (UNI EN 13725:2022) at the Olfactometry Laboratory, Engineering Campus - Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile
- 7 (Affordable and clean energy); 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure); 12 (Responsible consumption and production); 13 (Climate action)